Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: The spooky season has officially arrived, and judging by the crowd… people were ready to be scared 🎃👻🕷️
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In today’s 216 Scoop Edition:
They Built the City Then Fought for It: Cleveland’s Untold Labor Battles
Witch Doctor Casts Wide Spell: Cleveland’s Much-Anticipated Haunt Opens to Packed House
‘We Don’t Need Canada’? Trade and Job Benefits Say ‘Wrong’
Four Ways to Get Out of the House (While You Can)
‘Sluts In the Building’: Slutty Vegan’s Food Truck Hits Cleveland Streets
John Petkovic & Jude Perez
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IN THE NEWS
They Built the City Then Fought for It: Cleveland’s Untold Labor Battles
Photos courtesy Cleveland Memory Project and Cleveland Public Library
We look at our beautiful buildings and economic engines to celebrate Cleveland’s rise and glory.
On Labor Day, it’s about the people who built them.
Cleveland isn’t just a place where workers toiled; it was a launch pad for America’s labor movement.
The building of the Ohio & Erie Canal in 1825 transformed a frontier settlement into a commercial hub – and spawned a worker consciousness.
In the 1830s, journeymen printers formed the Cleveland Typographical Association to press for better hours and wages. Carpenters fought for a ten-hour day.
In 1850, 50 sewing women formed the Female Protective Union to fight low wages and long hours – and opened a co-op shop in 1851.
The labor movement took hold after the Civil War, with the formation of dozens of unions.
In 1877, European immigrant workers organized a strike at the Standard Oil Company facilities over low wages. It turned violent with cops beating the wives of strikers.
Violence against workers continued, even as the movement grew.
In 1899, the Cleveland Streetcar Strike turned the city into an urban war zone.
In 1911, a massive garment strike involving 6,000 workers led to arrests, violence and the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union in Cleveland.
In 1919, Cleveland experienced the most violent May Day clash in the United States when fights resulted in the city deploying mounted police, army trucks, and a military tank to clear the streets.
In 1937, Little Steel Strike resulted in worker and anti-union forces clashing in front of Republic Steel – leading Cleveland Safety Director Eliot Ness banning mass protests.
Happy Labor Day — here’s to the Clevelanders who built the city and led the fight for workers.
✊ Which chapter of Cleveland's labor history hits closest to home for you?
- ⚓ The 1830s journeymen printers and carpenters fighting for a ten-hour day: where it all started
- 👗 The 1850 Female Protective Union: 50 sewing women organizing a co-op shop was genuinely radical
- 🚃 The 1899 Cleveland Streetcar Strike turning the city into an urban war zone
- 🏭 The 1937 Little Steel Strike: Eliot Ness banning mass protests in front of Republic Steel is a wild Cleveland moment
Witch Doctor Casts Wide Spell: Cleveland’s Much-Anticipated Haunt Opens to Packed House
Photos by John Petkovic
Witching hour came early.
There was already a line formed outside before Witch Doctor had opened – and the waiting list was long throughout the night.
Magic!
The newest addition to Old Brooklyn’s rising nightlife scene is one of Cleveland’s most-anticipated openings.
Owners Matt Luebert and brothers Charles and Michael Eby spent two years building it out with stained-glass windows, moody lighting, witchy flair and enough Bordello chic to glamor a lair of New Orleans vampires.
The drink menu is just as enchanting.
It mixes classic spirit combinations with apothecary-style ingredients to create potions – like the Imhotep, Brimstone and Baba Yaga -- that emphasize flavors vs. knocking you out with booze.
Bold themes often wither after an early run.
But the Witch doesn’t go so heavy on the hoodoo that it casts a dark shadow over everything.
Judging from the wide-ranging crowd and laid-back, neighborhood vibe, the spell feels wide and potent.
🧙 What sealed the deal on Witch Doctor's opening night success?
- 🍸 The drink menu: Imhotep, Brimstone and Baba Yaga as cocktail names is inspired
- 🕯 Stained glass, moody lighting and Bordello chic: two years of build-out visible in every corner
- 🏘 Old Brooklyn neighborhood vibe winning out over heavy hoodoo: wide spell, not dark shadow
- 📋 The waiting list before it even opened: Cleveland was ready for exactly this
“We Don’t Need Canada”? Trade and Job Benefits Say “Wrong.”
Battleground state? More like collateral damage in a war.
Tariffs on Canada have taken a toll on Northeast Ohio. It could get much worse if President Trump goes nuclear on our northern neighbor.
“If we were playing hardball, all we’d do is say we’re going to do no trading with Canada. If we did no trading with Canada, we’d save 90 billion dollars,” he threatened on Friday.
Consider what that would mean…
Canada is our largest trading partner – not even close.
In recent years, Ohio has exported $17.5-$19.9 billion in goods northward while importing $16.3-$19 billion.
Canada absorbs one-third of Ohio’s total goods exports—more than the next several partners combined and well above the national average.
Cuyahoga County alone ships about $1.1 billion to Canada each year.
What would cutting off Canada mean?
Manufacturing would feel the blow first and hardest.
Ohio’s goods exports support 197,000 jobs statewide, with manufactured products accounting for the large majority.
Tens of thousands of those jobs are tied to the Canadian market.
Cuyahoga County counts about 3,500 workers at Canadian-owned businesses and another 9,300 jobs dependent on exports to Canada
Across the region, dozens of Canadian firms—including auto suppliers like Magna —employ thousands more in advanced manufacturing.
In August, President Donald Trump declared “WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!”
The math says otherwise: Northeast Ohio has a trade surplus with Canada.
Who wants to lose that?
🇨🇦 How worried are you about the impact of Canada tariffs on Northeast Ohio?
- 😤 Very worried: 12,800 Cuyahoga County jobs tied to Canadian trade is not an abstraction
- 🏭 Manufacturing first and hardest: Ohio's goods exports to Canada supporting 197,000 statewide jobs tells the whole story
- 🤔 Watching closely: a trade surplus with Canada means we have more to lose than the rhetoric admits
- 😮 Genuinely shocked: I had no idea Canada absorbs one-third of Ohio's total goods exports
The 216 Rundown
Four Ways to Get Out of the House (While You Can)
MONDAY
Record Riots: More than 15,000 albums and 50 dealers of vinyl and CDs, from punk to funk, metal and country. Great Northern Mall. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info.
Cleveland Oktoberfest: Break out the dirndls and lederhosen. Unleash the giant glockenspiel, racing wiener dogs. Raise the steins. Noon-8 p.m. Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Info.
TUESDAY
Bill Squire Comedy Showcase: The popular Cleveland comedian rolls out new and vet performers for a night of laughs at Brothers Lounger. 8 p.m. Info.
American Aquarium: The N.C. alt-country outfit has turned 20. But it’s celebrating the here and now – it’s new disc, ‘New Ways to Lose’ – with a tour that hits Beachland Ballroom. 8 p.m. Info.
🔥 Today’s Hot Property
📍 2040 W 11th Pl, Cleveland, OH 44113
💰 Price: $800,000
📏 Size: 2,401 sq ft
🏡 Built: 2013
🛏 4 Beds | 🛁 2 Full + 1 Half Baths
NOTES ON A COCKTAIL NAPKIN
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
Photos by John Petkovic except middle right, courtesy Slutty Vegan.
‘Sluts In the Building’: Slutty Vegan’s Food Truck Hits Cleveland Streets
Slutty Vegan is working the streets of Cleveland – and the staff was loud and proud.
“The sluts are in the building,” they bellowed as customers lined up for the debut of the Slutty Vegan food truck.
The fast-growing vegan burger chain has partnered with Cleveland restaurateur Akin Affrica’s to open two locations here and in Columbus.
The food truck offered a sneak peek.
“We posted an hour before opening and ended up selling out of most items,” Affrica said during a Friday stop in Lee-Miles.
Customers surveyed the yellow truck while ordering offerings like the Fussy Hussy, Sloppy Toppy and Hooker Fries.
“I’m an omnivore – I just like how the truck looks,” one woman observed.
“The name is vulgar, but they make it sound fun,” said another, as a passing car honked.
Affrica expects to announce brick-and-mortar locations soon.
“We coming,” he says. “And we’re gonna make veganism fun and entertaining.”
VINTAGE CLEVELAND
Cleveland Labor Day Parade, 1917 – East Sixth Street and Superior Avenue.
Cleveland Memory Project
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Extra Sprinkles
WEATHER
Monday, September 7
77 °F 🌡️ 61 °F | ☀️ (Sunny) | 6% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 13 mph ENE (≈ 11 knots)
Tuesday, September 8
82 °F 🌡️ 72 °F | ⛅ (Partly Cloudy) | 5% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 8 mph SSE (≈ 7 knots)
Wednesday, September 9
83 °F 🌡️ 70 °F | ⛅➡️⛈️ (PM Thunderstorms) | 42% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 16 mph SW (≈ 14 knots)
Please note that weather conditions can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking a reliable local weather service.
Live Shows in the 216
Top Shows on Monday, September 7
Music TRIVI-AOKE — Mercury Music Lounge, 7 PM
Nerd Night at The Foundry — Foundry Concert Club, 5 PM
Vader — Foundry Concert Club, 6 PM
Top Shows on Tuesday, September 8
American Aquarium w/ Nathan Evans Fox — Beachland Ballroom, 7 PM
Personality Crisis aka CLE Punk Night — Foundry Concert Club, 9 PM
The Mercury Jam — Mercury Music Lounge, 8:30 PM
Top Shows on Wednesday, September 9
Bike Night — Mercury Music Lounge, 7 PM
Davy Knowles w/ Freddy Hill — Beachland Tavern, 7 PM
Midnight Rental presents Secret Movie Night — Grog Shop, 7 PM
sports. x Remo Drive — Foundry Concert Club, 7 PM
The 216 Sports Area
Upcoming Games
Guardians
Away vs. Orioles, 1:35 PM September 7 (Monday)
Away vs. Orioles, 6:35 PM September 8 (Tuesday)
Away vs. Orioles, 6:35 PM September 9 (Wednesday)
Away vs. Twins, 8:10 PM September 11 (Friday)
Away vs. Twins, 4:10 PM September 12 (Saturday)
Away vs. Twins, 2:10 PM September 13 (Sunday)
Thanks for reading The 216 Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who says “I know a spot” and takes you to a parking garage roof.